Can I upgrade to a metal credit card?

Yes. This is a great alternative to applying outright, sidestepping a hard inquiry on your credit report. You can instead apply to the more accessible versions of the cards you’re interested in. Though not guaranteed, after the issuers see you demonstrating good credit habits over time, they may offer an upgrade or preapproval for one of their metal cards.

How do you dispose of a metal credit card?

There are stories all over the internet of people trying to destroy metal cards with blowtorches and tossing them into firepits. While it might be fun, it’s hardly a safe and easy solution. When your metal credit card expires or you close your account, the safest way to dispose of your card is to return it to the issuer.

How hard is it to get a metal credit card?

Many metal cards only accept good to excellent credit scores (670-850 FICO score), so getting approved may be a little more difficult than other cards. Otherwise, there are no special requirements for most metal cards: if you have a good credit score and can pay the annual fee, metal cards are just as available to you as any other.

Best Metal Credit Cards of June 2025

Compare Bankrate’s top metal credit cards

Card name	Rewards rate	Bankrate review score
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	5X points on travel purchases made through Chase TravelSM 3X points on dining 2X points on all other travel purchases.	4.9 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
The Platinum Card® from American Express	5X Membership Rewards points for prepaid hotels and flights when you book with American Express Travel® or an airline directly (up to $500,000 spent in a calendar year).	4.8 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
American Express® Gold Card	4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1X points) and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1X points) 3X Membership Rewards points flights directly on airlines or with Amex Travel	4.9 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Bilt Mastercard®	3X points on dining 2X points on travel Up to 1X points on rent payments (up to a maximum 100,000 points per calendar year) and other purchases (Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period). See Rewards and Benefits terms.	4.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Bilt's secure site See Rates & Fees
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	10X points on hotels and car rentals when purchased through Chase Travel℠ 5X points on air travel when purchased through Chase Travel℠ (after earning your $300 travel credit) 3X points on all other travel and dining purchases	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	6X Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program 3X points on flights booked directly with an airline and at restaurants worldwide 2X points on all other eligible purchases	4.6 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	5X miles on hotels and rental cars when booked through Capital One Travel 2X Capital One miles on all purchases	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees

On This Page

Metal card features at a glance

Credit cards with a metal construction offer a luxury element that elevates their look and feel: they command a certain presence when you take them out of your wallet (or accidentally drop them on the floor). If you’re interested in a metal card for style reasons, here’s a comparison of the weight and composition of our top choices. Just remember that although a metal credit card is more durable than a standard plastic card, it isn’t typically more or less secure.

Card name	Weight	Composition
The Platinum Card® from American Express	18.5g	Stainless steel
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	16g	Stainless steel
Bilt Mastercard®	16g	Aluminum
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	15g	Stainless steel
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	13g	Proprietary metal mix
American Express® Gold Card	13g	Stainless steel
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	13g	Brass alloy with metal palladium

What types of credit cards are metal?

Many credit cards are made of metal, which tends to be associated with luxury rewards and travel cards. You can also find some co-branded cards made of metal. Here are some of the card types that most often feature metal cards.

Though you shouldn’t prioritize form over function, you should be able to find a metal credit card that fits your goals and spending habits.

Travel credit cards: Many of the top travel credit cards are made from metal, so if you’re searching for a new travel card (especially a higher-tier card), it’s likely you can find one that’s made from metal. Most metal travel cards offer valuable perks like airport lounge access, free hotel nights or elite status, credits for TSA Precheck or Global Entry and more.
Credit cards for excellent credit: Most metal credit cards — even those you wouldn’t think of as premium cards — require excellent credit for approval.
Select co-branded cards: Some co-branded cards like the Prime Visa and Apple Card sport a sleek metal form factor and are a solid choice if you’re looking for a decent low-cost rewards card available with good credit.
Form-over-function cards: Some metal cards are just good-looking cards, but don’t offer much practical value for a typically inflated annual fee. While they look great, anyone who knows about credit cards won’t be impressed.

You’re unlikely to find a metal card option in the following categories:

Credit-building cards: People building credit are generally out of luck when it comes to getting a metal credit card. If you’re at this stage of your credit journey, you should prioritize good credit-building habits and with time you may qualify for higher-tier metal rewards cards.
Typical cash back cards: Although the best cash back cards can offer terrific upfront and long-term value, most cash back cards are plastic. If you want to earn cash back but are set on getting a metal card, you may have more luck with a general rewards card that lets you redeem points or miles for cash back without sacrificing redemption value versus redeeming for travel.
Student cards: Like credit-building cards, student cards aren’t typically made of metal. Metal cards often have annual fees, which could weigh heavily in a student’s wallet.

Here’s what our experts say

Several members of Bankrate’s editorial staff hold metal cards because of their valuable rewards or perks.

Bankrate staff insights

“I initially was very skeptical about the value of the Bilt Mastercard. I've been proven wrong. They always have great promos for card members, and Bilt points are one of the most valuable currencies available. The unique ability to pay rent with your card with no additional convenience fees is also vastly underrated.”

Ryan Flanigan, Writer

“I have a relatively busy lifestyle and simply don’t have enough time for shopping around between superstores and home goods stores to find the best deals on household essentials. I started using Amazon to save time and became a Prime member for all its benefits, like fast shipping and discounts. Soon after, I applied for the Prime Visa. Although a Prime membership is required, the cash back I earn from Amazon purchases offsets the Prime membership fee without straining my budget.”

Brendan Dyer, Writer

"As an iPhone user, I've found paying with and paying off the Apple Card very convenient. I especially love the Wallet app's notifications and straightforward interface, which help me track spending and ensure I always make my card payments on time. And I won't lie, that titanium clank you get when you set the card down is always satisfying."

Nouri Zarrugh, Senior Editor

All information about the Apple Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

Should I get a credit card because it’s metal?

Although many people seek out metal cards as an accessory or an expression of personality, you shouldn’t get a metal credit card simply because it looks good. You want your card to have actual value beyond just looking pretty when you put it on the table. The best metal credit card for you will also come with benefits and rewards to provide maximum value to meet your needs. The goal should always be to choose a card based on what it does for you, not what it looks and feels like.

Bankrate Insight

Our CardMatch™ tool can help you find cards with the rewards and perks you desire. You can compare what you find with our top metal cards to find the most durable and rewarding card for you.

Frequently asked questions about metal credit cards

Yes. This is a great alternative to applying outright, sidestepping a hard inquiry on your credit report. You can instead apply to the more accessible versions of the cards you’re interested in. Though not guaranteed, after the issuers see you demonstrating good credit habits over time, they may offer an upgrade or preapproval for one of their metal cards.
There are stories all over the internet of people trying to destroy metal cards with blowtorches and tossing them into firepits. While it might be fun, it’s hardly a safe and easy solution. When your metal credit card expires or you close your account, the safest way to dispose of your card is to return it to the issuer.
Many metal cards only accept good to excellent credit scores (670-850 FICO score), so getting approved may be a little more difficult than other cards. Otherwise, there are no special requirements for most metal cards: if you have a good credit score and can pay the annual fee, metal cards are just as available to you as any other.

How we assess the best metal credit cards

250+

cards rated

50+

rewards programs valued

5000

data points analyzed

40+

perks evaluated

When evaluating the best metal credit cards, we take into account several factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether they offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards to scoring a large sign-up bonus to saving on interest.

We analyzed over 250 of the most popular credit cards and selected standouts that feature a metal construction. We scored each card based on the factors most relevant to its primary category, including its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, intro APR period, ongoing APR, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.

How we rate rewards cards

Most metal cards earn rewards or cash back. Our rating methodology for these cards focuses heavily on rewards value — what kind of return we’d expect based on the average person’s spending and a card’s added bonuses and annual fee.

Here’s how overall scoring breaks down for rewards and cash back cards.

Value 65.00%
Flexibility 15.00%
Perks 15.00%
Customer experience 5.00%

Since many cardholders looking for a metal card are eager to earn rewards, a key criteria for a card’s inclusion in our list is whether it offers impressive rewards value. This includes a card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories, as well as how closely those categories match the average person’s spending habits. In other words: Does the card earn rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories?

We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2023 was $77,280 per consumer. We then narrow our focus to which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards, subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases and education. This gives us a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $22,500.

This includes the following spending by category:
- Groceries: $6,000
- Dining out: $3,900
- Entertainment: $2,500
- Gas: $2,400
- Apparel and services: $2,000
Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 26 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries. We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other cards in its primary category.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Here’s a deeper look at the factors considered as part of a rewards card’s “Value” rating:
5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Overall Score
- Ongoing rewards value 30%
- Sign-up bonus value 25%
- Annual fee & average APR 20%
- Rewards rate 15%
- Annual bonus value 10%
We rate all cards based on how their ongoing average APR compares to the average APR you’ll find other cards in their primary category. However, the impact of an especially high or low APR on a card’s overall score depends on its primary category.

For rewards-earning cards, this factor has only a minor influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance. That said, rewards-earning cards may get a solid boost in score and be more worthy of inclusion in our list if they also offer an intro APR on balance transfers or new purchases, since such offers aren’t always present on these cards.

More important to these cards’ scores and their inclusion in our list is how their annual fees influence their overall value. We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value.

Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value. However, if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score and a spot in our list even if it carries a high annual fee. After all, the highest rewards rates and most valuable perks are often found on cards with annual fees.

Interest rates and intro APR offers play a much larger role in a card’s score and whether it’s included in our list when the card is designed specifically for users looking to save on interest charges, such as dedicated balance transfer or low-interest cards.

Other fees considered include cash advance and late payment fees, along with penalty APRs.
Along with rewards value and cost, we consider other factors that could give cards great long-term value, like flexible rewards redemption and especially unique and valuable perks.

We rate rewards-earning cards based on the restrictions they impose on earning and redeeming rewards and consider this when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list.

These restrictions could include only allowing users to earn a high rewards rate on a small amount of spending or requiring users to meet a certain earning threshold before they can redeem rewards. We also examine whether points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners.

We also evaluate each card’s perks based on their value, usefulness and uniqueness. Cards that offer top-tier benefits like airport lounge access or travel credits are likely to stand out, but we also aim to highlight cards that offer valuable under-the-radar perks, like cellphone protection or one-off credits for everyday expenses like dining and streaming services.

Best metal credit cards for June 2025

+ Show Summary

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express

American Express® Gold Card

Bilt Mastercard®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card